Paul Wadell Citation

St. Norbert College is honored to recognize Professor Emeritus Paul Wadell as the recipient of the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. Wadell is an exceptionally talented teacher and a scholar whose work receives widespread recognition for both its depth and inspirational impact. As professor of theology and religious studies at St. Norbert College, Wadell raised the profile of the college to national renown in the arena of Catholic intellectual life.

Wadell is a native of Louisville, Ky., which he proudly proclaims as his home, with special mention of his love of the Kentucky Derby and his summer work at a bourbon distillery. Wadell received his B.A. in English from Bellarmine College, his M.A. in theology from Catholic Theological Union (CTU) and his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. He held academic appointments at CTU and the University of Scranton before accepting a position in the theology and religious studies department at St. Norbert in the fall of 1998. In 2019, Wadell was named professor emeritus.

It is impossible to fully capture Wadell’s contributions to, and significance for, St. Norbert College. From the moment of his arrival on campus, Wadell’s theology classes were not only in demand but were praised as memorable and inspiring. He formed lifelong friendships with numerous students. He was a regular presenter at new-faculty orientation workshops, faculty book discussions and panel discussions on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. In addition, he was a frequent and much-respected speaker at parishes, retreats, and other church and community-related venues. One administrative colleague, drawing on local football history, summed up the difference Wadell made here by enthusiastically remarking that Paul’s arrival meant as much to us as Reggie White’s did to the Packers.

Wadell’s scholarship is as remarkable as it is influential. He is the author or co-author of nine books, scores of scholarly articles, many book reviews and a long list of publications in the popular press. His retrieval of virtue theory from Aquinas, rooted in an understanding of the church as a moral community, is widely acclaimed as extraordinarily creative and . One scholar observes that in utilizing friendship as a lens to focus on questions of character and virtues, Wadell provides a “friendamental moral theology.” Wadell extends his work on friendship to the urgent and pressing issues of our times, including environmental degradation, racism and capital punishment. In recognition of Wadell’s contributions to the field, the highly respected “Journal of Moral Theology” dedicated a significant portion of its January 2021 volume to his work. The journal contains six articles from colleagues that explore the enduring value of his work in virtue ethics. The collection centers on the theme “Thanks Be to God for Paul J. Wadell: Essays in Honor of a Friend and His Work.” It is noteworthy that Wadell’s picture is on the cover of the journal – no small recognition in an academic journal!

Wadell’s work and impact reaches well beyond the classroom and academic journals. Wadell has been an active and guiding force in NetVUE, a national organization devoted to helping undergraduate students discern their callings, from its inception. He served as a member of the NetVUE Advisory Council from 2010 to 2020 and continues to serve as a co-facilitator of NetVUE’s annual faculty seminar. In recognition of his exemplary work, NetVUE leaders surprised Wadell at a June 2022 conference with special recognition for his important contributions to vocation exploration in higher education. The authors of a new volume of scholarship on the common good, entitled “Called Beyond Our Selves: Vocation and the Common Good” (Oxford UP, January 2024), dedicated the volume to Wadell. In the dedication, the authors acknowledge his intellectual and personal influence on their work as teacher-scholars.

Wadell’s accomplishments are truly impressive yet are only part of the picture. His loving partnership with his wife, Carmella, his dedication to his family, and the deep friendships he forms and sustains are a testament to him as a person of deep faith, integrity and compassion. He cares about everyone he meets and embodies the college’s motto, Docere Verbo et Exemplo. Those who know him recognize that Wadell not only “talks the talk but walks the walk.”

In recognition of and deep appreciation for his exceptional character and work, it is with great esteem that St. Norbert College confers upon Professor Emeritus Paul Wadell the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.

By Howard Ebert

Professor of Theology and Religious Studies